Thanks for the response I hope to get some information on these!! I know theyHey and welcome! So glad that you've joined us. I'm not an expert on belt buckles, but those who are will be along in a short while!
The NY doesn't have any bench Mark's visible. Would that mean it's a fake or just productioWelcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. First its very hard to determine authenticity based on photos. IMHO these plates look as they all have applied patina. The plate with the star is defiantly NOT a dug Miss plate. The NY does not have the bench marks on the back as it should have. (see below) If you could post some better photos it would be helpful.
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I have never seen a NY CW plate that didn't have the bench marks. The Star plate IMHO is a fake. I would need to see better photos of the CSA and measurements in MM as it is just to clean of a plate to have been dug there is NO wear on the hooks or the face.The NY doesn't have any bench Mark's visible. Would that mean it's a fake or just productio
Of it may have been made at a different time or place? Ad far as the Mississippi plate does it look like a fake. I understand it needs to be looked at in person for you to determine if it's real or not.
I purchased these from someone that got them from a deceased relative collection. I took the NY buckle yo a local civil war museum today they said it was authentic and most likely a officer. The CSA buckle they couldn't determine but said it's a sand cast and explains why it looks sloppy. The man that could authentic it wasnt in today that's more familiar with them. The Mississippi I didnt bring them I'm also assuming it's a fake as well this is what I could think was a match. I paid $200 a piece In Hope's one would be real lolWelcome from Maryland! Unfortunately I am in agreement with @ucvrelics, for a few reasons:
1. The star buckle should be stamped brass, but appears to be cast, beyond that it is doubtful such a dainty plate would have lasted until Gettysburg. Plates such as this are found in early war sites, due to their fragile nature.
2. NY buckle, @ucvrelics has a good point about the bench marks, but due to the private purchase of officer's buckles, they came from many sources and not all have the stamped or cut bench marks. Because #1 is most likely fake it taints the others unless we can get provenance and who these were purchased from. The buckle strongly appears to be a Gary Williams product, with exception of the bend of the hook.
3. CSA piece, the sloppiness of the casting is a little too much even for a CSA piece and the hooks look too good, but would need to see measurements and provenance.
Where did you pick these up and approximately what did you pay for them will give us a very good idea, were these all in the same collection? I remember in my early days of collecting I was told by a respected member of the collecting/dealer community, "when in doubt about a buckle, don't pay more than a happy meal"